The View from the Top - Why Cats Like Being Up High

It's a known scientific fact that heat rises.  So, when the temperature goes up and it gets hot, why in the world do cats like being up high?  They'll perch on anything from atop curtain rod to a multi-level climber, a high shelf or cabinet top and be as happy as they can be.  Have they gone crazy from the heat?

We need to go back to the evolution of the cat to explain this.  As upright walking human beings, we pretty much live in the horizontal - we move forwards, backwards and sideways just fine.  When it comes to going vertical, though, we need help from stairs, elevators and etc.  Cats, on the other hand, live horizontally and vertically.  Cats in the wild need to be able to climb up trees quickly to stay safe.  Being way up there let's them keep an eye on their surroundings - watching for predators and looking for any prey that might step out into view.  It's also harder to be the victim of a surprise attack when you have the best vantage point!

Today's pet cats aren't that much different.  Being up high on anything in your house offers them the same safety and big view as their wild ancestors enjoyed.  For BCR's blind cats, being up high lets them hear all that's going on around them with their super-sensitive hearing - same perspective, different methodology!  As it turns out, being up high also establishes a sort of pecking order for the cat's community.

Finally, they like to jump and climb.  That's part of their wild heritage that's never left them.  The BCR cats have shelves, climbers, curandas, and even people to climb on!  It may be hotter up high where the heat rises but, for cats, there's much more to it.  If your cat is a climber in hot weather, make sure you're heat savvy and provide them the relief they need!  

CLICK HERE to read more about why cats enjoy being up high!